KARACHI: A division bench of The Sindh High Court (SHC) headed by Justice Munib Akhter, on Wednesday directed the provincial government to consider the police chief’s submitted-draft of new rules for transfers, postings in the police department.
During the hearing, the provincial police chief AD Khowaja submitted the report, informing the court that he had drafted new rules and sent the same to the Sindh cabinet on October 6. “I had submitted my recommendations regarding the newly drafted rules for transfers and postings to the provincial government,” the IGP added in his report.
The court was informed by the petitioner’s counsel Faisal Siddiqui that the provincial cabinet was supposed to consider IGP’s drafted new rules in its meeting specifically called for such purpose within 15 days of receiving the same but no such meeting was called. Siddiqui further said that the provincial cabinet had formed a committee but kept the IGP away from it.
After hearing the arguments, the court directed the Sindh government to convene its meeting within 15 days to consider the drafted rules as per law and submit the report before it.
Earlier on September 07, the court in its judgment on AD Khawaja removal case had directed the police chief to draft new rules for setting out the manner of transfers and postings and submit the same before the provincial cabinet.
The court had ruled that, “the Inspector General shall, within 30 days, frame draft rules setting out the manner in which he (and the police hierarchy acting through him) is to exercise the power of transfers and postings in the police force at all levels (including PSP officers serving in the Province).
The court added in its judgment that “The draft rules shall be transmitted to the provincial cabinet and also, to ensure transparency, posted simultaneously and prominently on the website of the Sindh Police. The provincial cabinet must consider the draft rules at its next meeting or a meeting specifically called for such purpose within 15 days.”
Siddiqui said that the government was using delaying tactics which was clearly a violation of the courts’ orders.
